Touchez Pas au Grisbi (1954)

 Jacques Becker's "Touchez Pas au Grisbi"


Jacques Becker's only gangster film, 1954's "Touchez Pas au Grisbi," happened to spark a new interest in the gangster flick in France at the time. After the rousing success of Becker's Jean Gabin-led film, police dramas with ironic and fatalist moods became a new focus in film. Becker felt he wanted to do this style of film after reading Albert Simonin's 1953 novel of the same name. Although the casting of Gabin in the lead role is a no brainer, Becker was hesitant at first. He felt that Gabin represented French cinema of the past and not of the current moment. Regardless, Gabin was cast and it became one of his more notable roles in his career.

The film centers on Max, a Parisian criminal. After securing a stash of gold after a heist, Max must navigate the tricky cat and mouse games of fellow criminals who want to steal Max's loot. After several exciting incidents, Max loses everything. 

I felt as though "Touchez Pas au Grisibi" was far more interested in being entertaining than Becker's previous film, "Casque d'or." That being said, I think there is something to say about the notion of criminals fighting over stolen loot, only to tear each other apart in the process AND lose the loot. This thematic premise is indicative of contemporary greed and the levels of backstabbing and conniving to acquire it. Apparently, Becker was also inspired by Henri-Georges Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear," as well.



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